Abstract: A continuous ink jet printhead is provided. The printhead includes a source of ink drops, a first nozzle row, and a second nozzle row displaced in a first direction and a second direction relative to the first nozzle row. A selection device is positioned relative to the first and second nozzle rows. The selection device is configured to direct ink drops ejected from the source through the first nozzle row along a first selected ink drop path and a first non-selected ink drop path. The selection device is also configured to direct ink drops ejected from the source through the second nozzle row along a second selected ink drop path and a second non-selected ink drop path. A gutter is positioned adjacent the first and second non-selected ink drop paths. The gutter is shaped to collect ink drops traveling along the first and second non-selected ink drop paths. The gutter includes a housing defining an ink removal channel.

Abstract: Method and apparatus (10, 102) for continuous inkjet printing wherein a first continuous stream of ink droplets (66) traveling above a first flow path (48) is used as a mask for colliding with a second continuous stream of ink droplets (70, 72) traveling along an second, intersecting flow path (56) en route to a receiver (12) on which an image is to be printed. Selective droplets (72) of the second droplet stream are timed and of a size to pass between and avoid the masking droplets (66) of the first droplet stream so as to travel on and impinge the receiver (12) for forming the image thereon. The colliding masking and masked droplets (66, 70) are larger than the selected printing droplets (72) to facilitate collision. The smaller printing droplets (72) facilitate sharp pixel formation. The apparatus is compatible with low voltage CMOS print head systems and provides reliable operation, yet is relatively inexpensive to manufacture compared to other continuous ink jet print head constructions.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. An insulating layer or layers overlies the silicon substrate and has a series or an array of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate and each nozzle opening is formed in a recess in the insulating layer or layers by a material depletion process such as etching. The process of etching defines the nozzle openings at locations where heater elements are formed in the insulating layer or layers during a conventional CMOS processing of the integrated circuits. The print head structure thereby provides for minimal post processing of the print head after the completion of the CMOS processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing an image is provided. The apparatus includes an ink droplet forming mechanism operable to selectively create a stream of ink droplets having a plurality of volumes and a droplet deflector having a gas source. The gas source is positioned at an angle with respect to the stream of ink droplets and is operable to interact with the stream of ink droplets thereby separating ink droplets having one of the plurality of volumes from ink droplets having another of the plurality of volumes. The ink droplet producing mechanism has a nozzle and includes a heater positioned proximate to the nozzle. The heater may be selectively actuated at a plurality of frequencies to create the stream of ink droplets having the plurality of volumes. The heater may include an electrical resistance heating element. The gas source may be a positive pressure air source positioned substantially perpendicular to the stream of ink droplets.

Abstract: A solder jet apparatus is disclosed. The solder jet apparatus is a continuous mode solder jet that includes a blanking system and raster scan system. The use of the raster scan and blanking systems allows for a continuous stream of solder to be placed anywhere on the surface in any desired X-Y plane. This allows for greater accuracy as well as greater product throughput. Additionally, with the raster scan system, repairs to existing soldered surfaces can be quickly and easily performed using a map of the defects for directing the solder to the defects.

Abstract: In a printing head of a printer with deviated continuous jet, one of the electrodes (2) for deviating the ink drops is provided in a downstream part with a longitudinal slit (12) presenting a plane of symmetry relative to a plane containing the axis of the ink jet.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head is formed using a combination of traditional CMOS technology to form the various controlling electrical circuits on a silicon substrate having insulating layer(s) which provide electrical connections to heater elements associated with a nozzle and a MEMS technology for forming ink delivery cavities or channels and bores. A blocking structure is formed in the silicon substrate between an ink channel formed in the silicon substrate and a nozzle bore formed in the insulating layer(s). The blocking structure causes ink in an ink channel to flow around the blocking structure and thereby develop lateral flow components to the liquid entering the bore so that as the stream of fluid emanates from the bore the lateral flow components are a factor in allowing an increased stream deflection under the condition of asymmetric heating.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet printhead has a nozzle bore formed from a thin membrane that comprises an overhang from a relief portion of the substrate. The thin membrane of thickness t overhangs a relief portion of the substrate with a dimension OH. The nozzle bore has a respective diameter dimension D. The dimensions are characterized in that OH>=½ D; and wherein t<=0.33 D.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. An insulating layer or layers overlies the silicon substrate includes conductors at various levels to provide conductive paths for transmitting control signals for controlling the print head. The insulating layer or layers also has a series or an array of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate to provide a substantially planar surface to facilitate cleaning of the printhead. Each nozzle opening is formed as an elongated bore that extends through the insulating layer or layers to the silicon substrate. A heater element is formed adjacent each nozzle opening and in proximity to the planar surface to provide asymmetric heating of the ink stream as it leaves the nozzle opening.

Abstract: A continuous inkjet printing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a printhead having a two dimensional nozzle array. The two dimensional nozzle array includes a first nozzle row being disposed in a first direction and a second nozzle row being disposed displaced and offset relative to the first nozzle row. A drop forming mechanism is positioned relative to the nozzle rows and is operable in a first state to form drops having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form drops having a second volume travelling along the same path. A system applies force to the drops travelling along the path with the force being applied in a direction such that the drops having the first volume diverge from the path.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling ink in a continuous ink jet printer includes an ink delivery channel; a source of pressurized ink communicating with the ink delivery channel; a nozzle bore which opens into the ink delivery channel to establish a continuous flow of ink in a stream, the nozzle bore defining a nozzle bore perimeter; a drop generator which causes the stream to break up into a plurality of drops at a position spaced from the ink stream generator; and a drop deflector. The drop generator includes a heater having a selectively-actuated section associated with only a portion of the nozzle bore perimeter, whereby actuation of the heater section produces an asymmetric application of heat to the stream to partially control the direction of the stream. The drop deflector includes a gas flow source producing an additional control to the stream between a print direction and a non-print direction.

Abstract: An ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. The silicon substrate has a series of ink channels formed therein along the length of the substrate. An insulating layer or layers overlying the silicon substrate has a series of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate and each nozzle bore communicates with a respective ink channel. A primary heater element is associated with each nozzle bore for asymmetrically heating the ink in the nozzle bore. A secondary heater element is provided upstream of the primary heater element and formed in the insulating layer to preheat ink just prior to entry of the ink into the nozzle bores.

Abstract: An ink drop deflector mechanism is provided. The ink drop deflector mechanism includes an ink drop source and a path selection device operable in a first state to direct drops from the source along a first path and in a second state to direct drops from the source along a second path. The first and second paths diverge from the source. The mechanism also includes a system which applies force to drops travelling along at least one of the first and second paths with the force being applied in a direction so as to increase the divergence of the paths. The mechanism may include a gas source which generates a gas flow force that is applied in a direction that increases the divergence of the paths. The gas flow may be positioned between the first and second paths. The gas flow may be substantially laminar and interact with at least one of the first and second paths as the gas flow loses its coherence.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing an image is provided. The apparatus includes a droplet forming mechanism operable in a first state to form droplets having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form droplets having a plurality of other volumes travelling along the same path. A droplet deflector system applies force to the droplets travelling along the path. The force is applied in a direction such that the droplets having the first volume diverge from the path while the droplets having the plurality of other volumes remain travelling substantially along the path or diverge slightly and begin travelling along a gutter path.

Abstract: An ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. The silicon substrate has a series of ink channels formed therein along the length of the substrate. An insulating layer or layers overlying the silicon substrate has a series of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate and each nozzle bore communicates with a respective ink channel. A primary heater element is associated with each nozzle bore for asymmetrically heating the ink in the nozzle bore. A secondary heater element is provided upstream of the primary heater element and formed in the insulating layer to preheat ink just prior to entry of the ink into the nozzle bores.

Abstract: Ink particles that start flying toward the printing medium P earlier than or later than the ink particles for the line central area are used as ink particles for the line ends. Accordingly, it is possible to compensate for the affects of electrical charges onto the flying path of the ink particles for the line end portions, reducing the amount of bending at the ends of the printed line such that the bend is not noticeable, thereby improving the quality of printing to satisfy consumer demands.

Abstract: E1 A CIJ printhead includes a droplet deflector electrode having one or more windows formed therein, and a phase or velocity detector electrode disposed within the window. A method of forming the electrodes by plating multiple conductive and dielectric layers is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink jet printing process comprising the steps of; a) providing an ink jet printer in which a continuous stream of ink jet ink is emitted from a nozzle that is responsive to digital data signals; b) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element; c) loading the printer with an inkjet ink comprising a thermally-responsive polymeric material; and d) ejecting ink from a thermally-steered continuous ink jet print head onto one of the ink jet recording elements in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: A solder jet apparatus is disclosed. The solder jet apparatus is a continuous mode solder jet that includes a blanking system and raster scan system. The use of the raster scan and blanking systems allows for a continuous stream of solder to be placed anywhere on the surface in any desired X-Y plane. This allows for greater accuracy as well as greater product throughput. Additionally, with the raster scan system, repairs to existing soldered surfaces can be quickly and easily performed using a map of the defects for directing the solder to the defects.

Abstract: A combined deflection electrode and phase sensor electrode for a deflection type ink jet printer is made up of a ceramic support plate 19, a conductive layer 21 acting as the deflection electrode, layers of insulator 25 covering the conductive layer 21, and a patch of conductive material on the layers of insulator 25 to provide a phase sensor electrode 29 (Alternative constructions are also disclosed). A time of flight sensor electrode 31 may also be provided in the same way. The layers of insulator 25 prevent the sensor electrodes 29, 31 from being electrically connected, by splashes of conductive ink, to the deflection electrode provided by the conductive layer 21. The sensor electrodes 29, 31 can have a larger sensing area than separately provided electrodes, allowing them to be further from the ink jet and thereby easing alignment requirements.

Abstract: A system for producing three dimensional components by bonding together successive layers of a porous material with droplets of a binder material. A binder printhead has an array of nozzles which controllably supply jets of binder material droplets to the layers of porous material. The printhead is scanned in a raster scan fashion over each layer of porous material along a first scan axis in one direction to provide first fast scanning paths of droplets. The printhead is then moved laterally of such one direction and is then moved along the fast-scan axis in the opposite direction to provide second fast scanning paths of droplets which are interlaced with the first scanning paths. The supply of the droplets to the porous material can be controlled so as to control the overlapping thereof to produce various desired surface and interior characteristics of the components.

Abstract: A stroke based method for printing for use in a continuous ink jet printer. A set number of drops are assigned to a stroke, but the number of positions which can be printed on a stroke is greater than the number of drops on the stroke. This allows improved fonts at the same print speed.

Abstract: A solder jet apparatus is disclosed. The solder jet apparatus is a continuous mode solder jet that includes a blanking system and raster scan system. The use of the raster scan and blanking systems allows for a continuous stream of solder to be placed anywhere on the surface in any desired X-Y plane. This allows for greater accuracy as well as greater product throughput. Additionally, with the raster scan system, repairs to existing soldered surfaces can be quickly and easily performed using a map of the defects for directing the solder to the defects.

Abstract: A solder jet apparatus is disclosed The solder jet apparatus is a continuous mode solder jet that includes a blanking system and raster scan system. The use of the raster scan and blanking systems allows for a continuous stream of solder to be placed anywhere on the surface in any desired X-Y plane. This allows for greater accuracy as well as greater product throughput. Additionally, with the raster scan system, repairs to existing soldered surfaces can be quickly and easily performed using a map of the defects for directing the solder to the defects.

Abstract: A continuous linear array ink jet apparatus deposits a predetermined amount of printing fluid of at least one color onto a linear array of pixels at high resolution. The continuous ink jet system includes a linear array of orifices fluidically connected to a fluid supply, for producing a linear array of jets. The jets are stimulated for regular break-up of each jet into a plurality of uniform streams of drops. A linear array of planar conducting elements, disposed along a path of motion of the array of jets, deflects the print drops into at least two print positions. The linear array of planar conducting elements is situated at a predefined angle with the motion of the print medium so that the resolution of the print system is substantially higher than the number of jets per inch along the array.

Abstract: A deflection electrode for use in a continuous ink jet printing device molded of powdered ultra high molecular weight polyethylene combined with carbon black and subjected to oxygen plasma treatment.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes an ink jet printhead having a drop generator and an ink drop charging and catching assembly. An elastomeric seal mounted on a lever arm about a pivot remote from the charging and catching assembly seals the ink drop generator and charging and catching assembly when the ink jet printer is not in use.

Abstract: In a continuous ink jet printer of the type in which drops can be deflected to a plurality of print positions, the path of undeflected drops is angled relative to the substrate 23 which is printed onto, so as to shorten the path of the most deflected drops. Since the most deflected drops are the least stable, this tends to increase print quality or allow greater printing speed. The plane of deflection of ink drops may be parallel to a circuit board 1 on which components of the print head are mounted, enabling a deflection electrode 15 and other electrodes to be formed directly on the circuit board, thereby reducing the number of components which have to be mounted separately onto the circuit board 1.

Abstract: A deflection arrangement for deflecting charged particles, e.g. ink drops in an ink jet printer, is arranged so that the potential dropped across an air gap between deflection electrodes varies with position along the air gap. This may be achieved by providing a varying thickness of dielectric material 31 on one deflection electrode 29, extending towards the other deflection electrode 27. Preferably, the width of the air gap varies to follow the fanning out of the paths of differently deflected particles (e.g. ink drops), and the variation in the potential across the air gap allows advantage to be taken of the fact that the dielectric strength (breakdown field strength) of air varies with the width of the air gap.

Abstract: A printhead (1) for a continuous ink jet printer has a single pair of nozzles (3,3'). One or more oscillators for vibrating the ink (3,3') may be used to break up the twin streams (4,4') of droplets issuing from the nozzles. A pair (5) of charging gates is provided for applying, selectively and respectively, a charge to droplets in the two streams (4,4'). A pair of deflector means (7) apply respective electric fields across the streams (4,4') to deflect the droplets individually in accordance with the charge thereon. A gutter (10) or pair of gutters (11,11') receive droplets from the respective streams if they are not charged. The arrangement is such that the two streams of droplets are deflected in opposite directions so as to be printed.

Abstract: In a printing device using m ink jets, a head for the deflection of said jets is made in modular form by the assembling of:a first plurality of elements, each comprising m electrodes,a second plurality of elements for the separation of the elements of the first plurality, that are interposed between certain elements of the first plurality to separate these elements electrically from one another;the elements of the first plurality and of the second plurality being aligned and stacked to form a compact assembly.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet printer has main deflection electrodes 7 and 8 and a subsidiary deflection electrode 14 having a recess front face 16 which defines a cavity 17. Unwanted satellite droplets entrained by the main droplets 4 are deflected into, and form vortices in, the cavity 17, before coalescing on the surface of the electrode 14 for collection.